Page 20 of Eclipse Pack
“Ah, Taria. Come and meet Iona. I don’t think you’ve been introduced as yet. Iona, this is Taria, soon to be Luna of the Eclipse pack.”
“Pleased to meet you, Taria. I have heard good things about you. I particularly liked your matchmaking with Dahlia and Silas. None of us saw that coming, and we should have. Unfortunately, like Silas, we did not see past our blinkered vision of the old Dahlia. Well done, you.”
“Thank you, Iona. It was just a fresh pair of eyes, that’s all. Dahlia has certainly come out of her shell though, I must admit.” Looking closer at Iona, a thought strikes me. “Aren’t you on the warrior council that Gabe set up before he became Alpha at Wolfsfoot?”
“I have that distinction, yes.” Iona bows slightly and we all laugh.
“Could I steal you away at some point so you can explain what that’s all about? I’d be very interested in your thoughts and perspective.” The warrior council at Blackshadow is somethingthat I have not seen or heard of in any other pack, so it could be something, or nothing.
“Well, I’m going to eat lunch now, but I can be back here for when you’ve finished your training period, if that suits?”
“Oh yes. That would be excellent. Thank you so much. I’ll see you then. Oh, and enjoy your lunch. I’d join you if I didn’t have this session?” I look at Oscar and give him my pleading puppy-eyed look.
“Not a chance. I went by the canteen earlier and saw what you ate for breakfast. You don’t need lunch,” Oscar grins at me. They both laugh, and I see that my appetite is becoming common knowledge amongst the pack.
During the training session, I seem to be picking myself up off the ground more times than I care to remember. I’m not normally getting my ass handed to me so many times in a session. I am determined not to lose every attack and give it my all. All to no avail, however.
When Oscar has had enough of watching me struggle to my feet, he stands there looking down at me for the last time.
“I don’t know what’s got into you, Taria, but you are trying too hard to win every fight. You are not normally this focused on trying to win, and it’s making you careless. If any of today's fights had been the real thing, you’d be dead. No two ways about it and no way to sugarcoat it. You wouldn’t stand a chance if an assassin came for you right now.”
“I could tell that I wasn’t doing well but thought that you had introduced something new that I wasn’t seeing.” I roll my neck to try to free up some of the knots I can feel. Sweat is running down my chest and back in rivers.
“Nothing new here. In fact, I didn’t even have to try. You left yourself wide open to my moves. Stop trying so hard. You’ll find your moves will come more fluidly, if they are more instinct than thought. Does that make sense?” Oscar smiles at me and then I see his eyes flick behind me.
“I understand, but I’m not sure what’s made me this way just now. I’ll think it over before our next session.” Turning, I see Iona waiting. “I hope you didn’t see too much of that,” I smile, and she nods her head.
“Enough to know that it wasn’t pretty, and you were not at your best. I’ve seen you fight better in other sessions, I must admit.” Giving me a sniff, she says, “Would you like a shower before we have our question and answer session? Please…because you stink.”
“I guess I need one, huh?” Heading briskly back to the packhouse, I agree to meet her in the canteen in a few minutes after I shower and change.
Walking back into the canteen, I spy Iona sitting at a corner table, in pretty much the same sort of position that I would choose now. She is not alone, there is a male with her. As I approach, the male stands and introduces himself as Hallec, Iona’s mate and fellow warrior council member.
“Pleased to meet you, Taria, however, I must leave you two to your lunch. I want to surprise the border patrol with an inspection. Enjoy your food, I’ll see you later, Iona.” Seeing the look in her eyes as he walks away, I have no doubt that they are a fated pair, and I feel a pang of jealousy.
“I am not a weak female, Taria, by any means, I can hold my own against anyone, but there goes my rock,” she whispers.
“I imagine he feels the same way about you, Iona. He should have kissed you before he left. He wanted to.” Taking a seat beside her, I wait for her to come back to earth.
“So, the warrior council. Let me tell you what I know and then we can go from there. Beta Gabriel, as he was then, wasn’t happy with the way the pack had been run by the then Alpha Torrence, and none of us were sure how Alpha Connell would shape up. None of us doubted that he wanted the pack to thrive and become a great pack once again. We were just not sure that he would be up to it. His friends were not friends, but users. They abused his friendship and bullied the pack. Beta Gabriel wanted a way to stop them, and the easiest way was to somehow curb their power over others. As most were warriors, taking away that status would rob them of their power.
“By forming the warrior council, he could give the pack a way of deciding who should warrant that power. Warrior training has improved. The standard has been raised and we once again hold each other in high esteem. We know our borders are protected and that our pups can once again sleep safely.”
“I don’t believe the Eclipse pack has those issues, but I like the warrior council format. I think all packs could benefit from having a standard that is upheld by a group rather than a single Chief Warrior. Not that I’m casting aspersions on any Chief Warrior…” I can certainly see how Gabriel came to his decision and can only marvel at how he managed to implement it.
“Remember, Taria, that the Delta is also heavily involved with the warriors. They regulate the patrol schedules, take all reports from them, investigate discrepancies and any border infringements. It is not always necessary to have more than those two officers involved. It can quite easily have an adverseeffect if you have people on the council with too strong of an opinion or ego.”
“Oh, my goodness. This is like my fighting training,” I say, laughing. “I think I’m trying too hard and overthinking everything.”
Iona grins, “Go chill out, you’ll think about what you’ve heard and mull it over I’m sure. You have plenty of time before you leave for the next pack you are visiting, and then you will have even more information to think about.”
I can’t help but look at Iona in horror, and as she throws her head back laughing I watch her leave, laughing all the way.
Chapter 11
BRONZE
Sitting at the alpha’s desk, munching cookies down as though it’s my last meal. I’m thinking of punishments that don’t involve Cook Ash or her kitchen. So far, it looks like Herb the gardener is going to be taking the hit with anyone that gets disciplined. Although, unlike Cook Ash, I don’t think Herb will ever run out of tasks that need extra muscle. If anything, I believe he’d lap up any extra pairs of hands he could get. He’s doing a fantastic job with the gardens and his future plans are all ahead of schedule, his enthusiasm is an absolute joy to see.
